City of Doncaster

{{Short description|Metropolitan borough in England}} {{Use British English|date=April 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox settlement | name = City of Doncaster | type = Metropolitan borough and city | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox| perrow = 1/2| total_width = 280|align=center | image1 = The Minster Church of Saint George and the canal basin, Doncaster - geograph.org.uk - 3560854.jpg | image2 = Market Place, Tickhill - geograph.org.uk - 5882273.jpg | image3 = Conisbrough from Conisbrough Castle - geograph.org.uk - 5463348.jpg | image4 = Church Walk, Bawtry - geograph.org.uk - 4616584.jpg | image5 = Thorne Lock, Thorne - geograph.org.uk - 5803946.jpg | image6 = Askern Mining Wheel, Askern - geograph.org.uk - 5718842.jpg | image7 = St. Lawrence's church seen from Station Road - geograph.org.uk - 4271495.jpg}} | image_caption = {{ubl|From left to right|Top: Doncaster Minster and the River Don canal basin in Doncaster|Upper:Tickhill Market Place and Conisbrough from Conisbrough Castle|Lower: Church Walk in Bawtry and Thorne Lock in Thorne|Bottom: Askern Mining Wheel and St Lawrence's Church in Hatfield}} | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = Coat of arms of the city council | image_map = Doncaster UK locator map.svg | map_caption = Doncaster shown within South Yorkshire | mapsize = frameless | subdivision_type = Sovereign state | subdivision_name = United Kingdom | subdivision_type1 = Constituent country | subdivision_name1 = England | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = Yorkshire and the Humber | subdivision_type3 = Metropolitan county & City region | subdivision_name3 = South Yorkshire | seat_type = Admin. HQ | seat = Civic Office, Waterdale | government_type = City and metropolitan district council | governing_body = City of Doncaster Council | leader_title = Leadership: | leader_name = Mayor and cabinet | leader_name1 = {{English district control|GSS=E08000017}} | leader_title2 = Mayor | leader_name2 = Ros Jones (L) | leader_title3 = MPs: | leader_name3 = Lee Pitcher (L), Ed Miliband (L), Sally Jameson (L), John Healey (L) | established_title = Founded | established_date = | founder = | area_rank = {{English district area rank|GSS=E08000017}} | area_total_km2 = {{formatnum:{{English district area|GSS=E08000017}}|R}} | population_as_of = {{English statistics year}} | population_total = {{formatnum:{{English district population|GSS=E08000017}}|R}} | population_rank = Ranked {{English district rank|GSS=E08000017}} | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = Greenwich Mean Time | utc_offset = +0 | timezone_DST = British Summer Time | utc_offset_DST = +1 | postal_code_type = Postcode | postal_code =  | area_codes = 01302, 01405, 01709, 01977 | blank_name = ISO 3166-2 | blank_info = GB-DNC | blank1_name = ONS code | blank1_info = 00CE (ONS) E08000017 (GSS) | blank2_name = OS grid reference | blank2_info =  | blank3_name = NUTS 3 | blank3_info =   | demographics_type1 = Ethnicity (2021) | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E08000017|title=Doncaster Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref> | demographics1_title1 = Ethnic groups | demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list | 93.1% White | 2.9% Asian | 1.5% Mixed | 1.2% Black | 1.2% other }}  | demographics_type2 = Religion (2021) | demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/> | demographics2_title1 = Religion | demographics2_info1 = {{Collapsible list | 50.9% Christianity | 39.8% no religion | 5.3% not stated | 2.2% Islam | 0.6% other | 0.5% Sikhism | 0.4% Hinduism | 0.3% % Buddhism | 0.1% Judaism }} | website = [http://www.doncaster.gov.uk doncaster.gov.uk] }} The '''City of Doncaster''' is a metropolitan borough with city status in South Yorkshire, England.<ref>{{cite web |title=Doncaster: Residents choose newest city's new name |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-62742853 |website=BBC News |access-date=2 November 2022 |date=31 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Doncaster City Status Naming |url=https://www.visitdoncaster.com/news/doncaster-city-status-naming/ |website=Visit Doncaster |access-date=2 November 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=What should Doncaster be called now it has gained city status? |url=https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2022-08-24/what-should-doncaster-be-called-now-it-has-gained-city-status |access-date=2 November 2022 |work=ITV News |date=24 August 2022 }}</ref> It is named after its principal settlement, Doncaster, and includes the surrounding suburbs of Doncaster as well as numerous towns and villages. The district has large amounts of countryside; at {{convert|219|sqmi}}, it is the largest metropolitan borough in England by area.

The largest settlements in the borough are Doncaster itself, followed by the towns of Thorne, Hatfield and Mexborough (the latter of which is part of the Barnsley/Dearne Valley built-up area), and it additionally covers the towns of Conisbrough, Stainforth, Bawtry, Askern, Edlington and Tickhill.

Doncaster borders North Yorkshire to the north, the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north-east, North Lincolnshire to the east, Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire to the south-east, Rotherham to the south-west, Barnsley to the west, and Wakefield, West Yorkshire, to the north-west. It is part of the Yorkshire and the Humber region.

The borough was created on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of the former County Borough of Doncaster, the urban districts of Adwick le Street, Bentley with Arksey, Conisbrough, Mexborough, and Tickhill, Doncaster and Thorne rural districts, and the parish of Finningley from East Retford Rural District and small parts of the parish of Harworth from Worksop Rural District from Nottinghamshire.

==Population statistics==

According to the 2011 census, the population of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster is 302,400.

With approximately 110,000 inhabitants, the city of Doncaster itself contains around a third of the population of the entire borough. Around half of the borough's population reside within Doncaster's urban area (approximately 160,000).

Verified population statistics per ward from the 2001 census are shown as:

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Doncaster population  ! Ward ! Population ! Households |- | Adwick | 16,142 | 6,220 |- | Armthorpe | 16,977 | 6,495 |- | Askern | 11,414 | 4,293 |- | Balby | 14,336 | 5,514 |- | Bentley Central | 12,168 | 4,665 |- | Bentley North Road | 11,606 | 4,728 |- | Bessacarr | 13,652 | 5,425 |- | Central | 11,481 | 5,144 |- | Conisbrough | 14,894 | 5,837 |- | Edlington & Warmsworth | 12,291 | 4,641 |- | Hatfield | 15,048 | 5,630 |- | Intake | 10,994 | 4,417 |- | Mexborough | 15,282 | 6,281 |- | Richmond | 13,471 | 5,308 |- | Rossington | 12,647 | 4,705 |- | South East | 16,880 | 6,247 |- | Southern Parks | 14,439 | 5,520 |- | Stainforth | 15,447 | 5,825 |- | Thorne | 17,057 | 6,380 |- | Town Field | 11,131 | 4,587 |- | Wheatley | 11,497 | 4,877 |- class="sortbottom" | '''Doncaster Total''' | '''288,854''' | '''112,739''' |}

==Elected mayor== A referendum was held in 2001, to decide if a directly elected mayor should be appointed. The first mayor, Martin Winter, representing the Labour Party, was elected in 2002 and successfully defended his post in 2005.

In 2009 the English Democrat candidate, Peter Davies, won the election for mayor.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8084538.stm English Democrat wins mayor vote] BBC News 5 June 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/Living_in_Doncaster/The_Mayor_and_Council/voting_elections_democracy/Elections/Mayoral/Mayoral_Election_2009_Results.asp Mayoral results 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611193051/http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/Living_in_Doncaster/The_Mayor_and_Council/voting_elections_democracy/Elections/Mayoral/Mayoral_Election_2009_Results.asp |date=11 June 2009 }} www.doncaster.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2009</ref> In January 2013 Davies left the English Democrats citing "a big influx of new members (of the English Democrats) joining from the British National Party".<ref>{{cite web|title=Doncaster mayor quits English Democrats 'because of BNP'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21335384|date=5 February 2013 |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> In the May 2013 mayoral election he was defeated by Labour's Ros Jones.

==Borough council== {{main| City of Doncaster Council}} The council as a whole has been dominated by the Labour Party traditionally, but in the 2004 local elections, they lost overall control of the council (though they retained more councillors than any other single party). Labour regained overall control at the 2010 local elections.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/council/html/3684.stm |title=Doncaster council |work=Election 2010 |publisher=BBC News |date=19 May 2010 |access-date=15 December 2010}}</ref>

==2010 Audit Commission report and central government intervention== In January 2010, the Audit Commission initiated a corporate governance inspection of Doncaster Council. This followed the sudden resignation of the Chief executive leading to a conflict between the mayor and council over the appointment of a successor. The Commission felt that this, along with evidence that the council had not been well run for 15 years, was leading to a loss of public confidence.<ref name=guard>{{cite news |title=Ministers take over 'dysfunctional' Doncaster council |first=Patrick |last=Butler |newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 April 2010 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/apr/19/doncaster-council-failing-and-dysfunctional }}</ref>

The Commission's report was issued in April 2010. It found that Doncaster was a dysfunctional authority and that there were three factors preventing the council from providing good governance:<ref name=audit>{{cite web |url=http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/InspectionOutput/InspectionReports/2010/201004doncastermetropolitanboroughcouncilcorporategovernanceinspectionREP.pdf |title=Corporate Governance Inspection: Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council |date=April 2010 |publisher=Audit Commission |access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref> *'''The councillors' attempts to undermine the authority of the mayor and cabinet.''' There was evidence that councillors had never accepted the mayoral system and tried to use their overview and scrutiny powers to frustrate the mayor's policy objectives. In February 2010, the council had rejected the mayor's budget and voted in favour of their own proposals. *'''The lack of effective leadership shown by the mayor and cabinet'''. The mayor was described as "not averse to provocative and inflammatory statements" and it was felt that he "does not always act in a way which demonstrates the need for an elected mayor to lead his authority and represent all the people in Doncaster". *'''The failure of chief officers to deliver effectively services'''. Some senior officers were found to acquiesce in the councillors' misuse of scrutiny powers. There was also a lack of trust and impartiality.

On the recommendations of the commission, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Denham, used powers to appoint an acting chief executive and an advisory board to oversee the council.<ref name=guard/> A Doncaster Recovery Board, comprising four appointed commissioners and seven other members including the mayor and chief executive held its first quarterly meeting on 10 September 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doncasterrecoveryboard.org.uk/meetings.asp|title=Meetings|publisher=Doncaster Recovery Board|access-date=27 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426005039/http://www.doncasterrecoveryboard.org.uk/meetings.asp|archive-date=26 April 2012}}</ref>

==Places== Settlements in the Borough of Doncaster include:

{{Location map+|United Kingdom Borough of Doncaster|width=300|float=right|caption=The ten largest settlements of the Borough of Doncaster|places=

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Doncaster|label = '''Doncaster''' |long = -1.133|lat = 53.515|position=left|| marksize=10 |label_size=100}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Doncaster|label = Bentley |long = -1.144 |lat =53.551|position = right}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Doncaster|label = Woodlands |long = -1.201|lat = 53.554|position =top}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Doncaster|label = Conisbrough |long = -1.229|lat = 53.482|position=right}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Doncaster|label = Edlington |long = -1.196|lat = 53.477|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Doncaster|label = Mexborough |long = -1.283 |lat = 53.4992 |position=right}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Doncaster|label = Armthorpe |long =-1.052235 |lat = 53.535176|position=right}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Doncaster|label = Dunscroft/Hatfield |long = -1.016667 |lat = 53.569444 |position=top}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Doncaster|label = Rossington |long = -1.0613 |lat = 53.47594 |position=right }}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Doncaster|label = Thorne |long = -0.9583 |lat = 53.6083|position=right }} }} [[File:View from Cusworth Hall - panoramio.jpg|thumb|View from Cusworth Hall towards Doncaster]]

*Adwick le Street, Almholme, Arksey, Armthorpe, Askern, Auckley, Austerfield *Balby, Barnburgh, Barnby Dun, Bawtry, Belle Vue, Bentley, Bessacarr, Blaxton, Braithwaite, Braithwell, Branton, Brodsworth, Burghwallis *Cadeby, Campsall, Cantley, Carcroft, Clayton, Clifton, Conisbrough, Cusworth *Denaby, Doncaster, Dunscroft, Dunsville *Edenthorpe, Edlington *Fenwick, Finningley, Fishlake *Hampole, Harlington, Hatfield, Hatfield Woodhouse, Hayfield, Haywood, Hexthorpe, Highfields, Hickleton, High Levels, High Melton, Hooton Pagnell, Hyde Park *Intake *Kirk Sandall, Kirk Bramwith *Lakeside, Lindholme, Loversall *Marr, Mexborough, Micklebring, Moorends, Moss *New Rossington, Norton *Owston *Rossington *Scawsby, Scawthorpe, Shaftholme, Skelbrooke, Skellow, Sprotbrough, Stainforth, Stainton, Sykehouse *Thorne, Thorpe in Balne, Tickhill, Tilts, Toll Bar, Town Moor *Wadworth, Warmsworth, West Bessacarr, Wheatley, Wheatley Hills, Woodlands

==Media== {{more citations needed|date=April 2024}} In terms of television, the area is served by BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire broadcasting from the Emley Moor transmitter.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Emley_Moor | title=Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) Full Freeview transmitter | date=May 2004 }}</ref>

Radio stations that can be received in Doncaster are Sine FM 102.6 (serving central districts of around 100,000 households in FM stereo), TMCR 95.3 (which serves Northeast Doncaster and other areas in FM stereo), TX1 Radio (covering Doncaster and Bassetlaw), Capital Yorkshire, Heart Yorkshire, Greatest Hits Radio Yorkshire, Hits Radio South Yorkshire and BBC Radio Sheffield. Although the above stations can be received within various areas of Doncaster, the only stations actually owned by Doncaster-based companies are Sine FM 102.6 and TMCR 95.3.

The borough is also the base of Nova Productions who produce the syndicated TV series ''Walks Around Britain''.

==Freedom of the Borough== The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of Doncaster. {{Incomplete list|date=June 2019}}

===Individuals=== * 8 July 1751: John Dawnay, 4th Viscount Downe, British Politician. * 8 July 1751: Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, British Prime Minister. * 8 July 1751: John Manners, Marquess of Granby, British Army Officer. * 23 September 1806: Prince of Wales. * 23 September 1806: Duke of Clarence. * 17 September 1822: Duke of Sussex * 15 September 1829: Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, British Army Officer and Later Prime Minister.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://doncasterhistory.wordpress.com/local-history-2/corporation-and-mansion-house/freedom-of-doncaster/|title=Freedom of Doncaster|date=7 June 2012|access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref> * 14 August 2017: Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, British Paratrooper wounded in Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-south-yorkshire-40925411/ben-parkinson-walks-into-ceremony-honouring-him|title=Hometown honours injured soldier|work=BBC News|access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://wearedoncaster.co.uk/news/ben-parkinson-to-receive-the-freedom-of-the-borough/|title=Ben Parkinson to receive the Freedom of the Borough | Business Doncaster|website=wearedoncaster.co.uk|access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref> * 25 February 2019: Tony Sockett, Former Mayor of Doncaster.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doncaster-chamber.co.uk/news/details/tony-sockett-receives-freedom-of-the-borough|title=Tony Sockett receives Freedom of the Borough|website=www.doncaster-chamber.co.uk|access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doncasterecho.co.uk/doncaster-resident-receives-freedom-of-the-borough-award/|title=Doncaster resident receives 'Freedom of the Borough' Award|date=3 April 2019|work=Doncaster Echo |access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref> * 22 March 2019: Yvonne Woodcock, Mayor of Doncaster 1998–1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/News/the-queen-s-birthday-honours-list|title=The Queen's Birthday Honours List |publisher= Doncaster Council|access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Yvonne can 'take her sheep down the High Street' |url=https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/retro/yvonne-can-take-her-sheep-down-high-street-178686 |website=The Doncaster Free Press |access-date=23 March 2022 }}</ref> * 22 March 2022: James Coppinger, Footballer for Doncaster Rovers 2004–2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coppinger to be presented with Freedom of the Borough on May 21|url=https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2021/may/coppinger-to-be-presented-with-freedom-of-the-borough-on-may-21/|access-date=2021-06-05|website=www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-legend-james-coppinger-receives-freedom-of-the-borough-3622592 |title=Doncaster Rovers legend James Coppinger receives Freedom of the Borough |last=Goodwin |first=Paul |date=22 March 2022 |website=The Doncaster Free Press |access-date=23 March 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=James Coppinger presented with Freedom of the Borough |url=https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/News/james-coppinger-presented-with-freedom-of-the-borough |website=Doncaster Borough Council |access-date=23 March 2022 }}</ref> * 13 July 2023: Graham Kirkham, Baron Kirkham, British Businessman and Politician.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/dfs-founder-lord-kirkham-granted-freedom-of-the-city-of-doncaster-4220015 |title=DFS founder Lord Kirkham granted freedom of the city of Doncaster |last=Mower |first=Shannon |date=15 July 2023 |website=The Yorkshire Post |access-date=20 July 2023 }}</ref>

===Military Units=== * The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry: 1945. * RAF Finningley: 1975. * The Rifles: 8 September 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/top-brass-lieutenant-general-nick-parker-recieves-the-freedom-of-the-borough-scrolls-from-chair-of-council-tony-sockett-and-mayor-winter-and-right-veterans-from-the-king-s-own-yorkshire-light-infantry-and-light-infantry-pictures-marie-caley-d8661-1-506865|title=TOP BRASS: Lieutenant General Nick Parker receives(sic) the Freedom of the Borough scrolls from Chair of Council Tony Sockett and Mayor Winter, and right, veterans from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and Light Infantry. Pictures: MARIE CALEY D8661|access-date=14 June 2019|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322204134/http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/top-brass-lieutenant-general-nick-parker-recieves-the-freedom-of-the-borough-scrolls-from-chair-of-council-tony-sockett-and-mayor-winter-and-right-veterans-from-the-king-s-own-yorkshire-light-infantry-and-light-infantry-pictures-marie-caley-d8661-1-506865|url-status=dead}}</ref> * The Coldstream Guards: 15 July 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/yorkshire-town-to-bestow-freedom-of-entry-to-prestigious-coldstream-guards-3302429 |title=Yorkshire town to bestow 'Freedom of Entry' to prestigious Coldstream Guards |last=Torr |first=George |date=11 July 2021 |website=The Yorkshire Post |publisher= |access-date=13 July 2021 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Doncaster Freedom of Entry presented to the Coldstream Guards |url=https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/News/doncaster-freedom-of-entry-presented-to-the-coldstream-guards |website=Doncaster Borough Council |access-date=26 September 2021 |archive-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925082627/https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/News/doncaster-freedom-of-entry-presented-to-the-coldstream-guards |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also== * Listed buildings in Doncaster

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://www.don.ac.uk/ Doncaster College] *[http://www.donny.co.uk/Belles/ Doncaster Belles L.F.C. homepage] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20031208154308/http://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/index3.htm Doncaster Rovers F.C. homepage] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070625042852/http://www.stadiumwatch.co.uk/ StadiumWatch homepage] *[http://www.robinhoodairport.com/ Doncaster Sheffield Airport] *Doncaster Lakeside

{{South Yorkshire}} {{Yorkshire and the Humber}} {{UK cities}} {{Metropolitan districts of England}} {{coord|53|31|21|N|1|07|43|W|display=title|region:GB_type:city_source:nlwiki}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Doncaster, Metropolitan Borough of}} Category:Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster Category:Local government districts in South Yorkshire Category:Metropolitan boroughs Category:Politics of Doncaster Category:1974 establishments in England